Pressure sealing closure



Feb. 22, 1944.

c. c. HAMILTON 2,342,140

PRESSURE SEALING CLOSURE Filed July 11, 1942 ENTOR I mv Carl C Hamilton WM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1944 i PRESSURE SEALING CLOSURE Carl 0. Hamilton, Plalnfleld, N. J., The Babcock & Wilcox Company,

assl gnor to Jersey City,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 11, 1942, Serial No. 450,623

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in pressure sealing closures, and it is particularly concerned with a pressure sealing improvement for pressure parts adapted to operate at high pressures and under conditions which require periodic cleaning of the interior surfaces of the pressure parts. Such conditions are encountered in the operation of modern steam generators.

In marine installations where the time available for cleaning economizers or steam generators is very limited, it is important that the closure devices forming the parts of such economizers and generators to be cleaned, be so con structed and arranged that they can be quickly removed and replaced. It is also important that unnecessary losses of time shall not occur for such cleaning operations. To these ends, the invention presents a closure assembly the component parts of which remain in assembled relationship even when the assembly is removed so as to uncover access openings for the necessary cleaning operation. The closure assembly of the invention is also contsructed so that it may be removed from an access opening with a maximum of facility, its replacement in operative position likewise taking place within a minimum of time.

The present invention also provides a pressure sealing device of light weight and involves an assembly of pressure sealing elements effectite in use, to provide for quick access to the interior of a pressure part, and a quick and effective closing of the access opening after the maintenance work has been done. At the same time, the illustrative pressure sealing assembly provides a pressure tight closure which guards against accidental release of the closure without release of the pressure normally efi'ecting the seal.

These andother specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention constituting this improvement and of the mode of constructing and utilizing the closures built in accordance with the invention,

may be had by referring to the drawing acco'mpanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a section of an economizer return bend having an access opening sealed by the illustrative closure assembly;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a structure shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the closure assembly, on a plane at right angles to the plane of the Fig. 1 section:

x Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the associated arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows applied to that section line;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bridge piece, or hinder shown in Fig. 1 at the left hand and of the illustrative assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the gland occupying an intermediate position in the illustrative assembly.

By way of explanation and description of -the invention, but not by way of limitation, attention is directed to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing which disclose a return bend In for an econo mizer. This return bend has two branches connected to the economizer tubes indicated at l2 and M.

The central part of the retum'bend has welded thereto a hollow cylindrical body l6 having a relatively unobstructed bore which will afford access for periodic cleaning of the economizer tubes l2 and It.

For a purpose which will appear later, the end of the cylindrical body l6 opposite the economizer tubes has diametrically opposed recesses with parallel walls, as indicated at I 8 and 20 of Fig. 4.

Beyond the recesses l8 and 20 and toward the return bend side of the body IS the latter is formed with an undercut annular chamber 22. At its return bend side, this annular chamber is formed by an uninterrupted annular shoulder 2|, but at the opposite side of this annular chamber, there is no similar surface or shoulder over the width of the recesses I8 and 20. It will be clear'that this construction presents, on the end face of the body l6 opposite the return bend Ill, two spaced locking segments 2| and 2|", the inner portions of these locking segments overhanging the annular chamber 22.

Just inwardly of the annular shoulder 2|, the bore of the body I 6 is of a taper increasing outwardly to facilitate the removal and replacement of the illustrative closure assembly, prior to, and after, access is had through the body l6 for cleaning the economizer tubes I 4.

The closure assembly, which is so constructed that it may be quickly inserted as a unit within the body I '6, includes adjustable elements by which the parts of the assembly may quickly close the access opening and produce such a seal of that opening that it is not only effective to prevent leaks at higher fluid pressures, but is also eflective in such a way that the parts are locked'in their pressure-tight sealing relationship. This closure assembly includes a central component herein referred to as a retainer 38. This element is somewhat in the nature of a rod-like construction having a beveled annular extension or head 36 at its inner end. This head is of such an outside diameter that there is free clearance between it and the minimum bore of the body I6 and its beveled annular and lateral surface toward its outside end is effective to axially compress and radially expand the packing which will receive later reference.

The outer end of the retainer 38 is screwthreaded as indicated at 48 to receive a nut 42 by which the component parts of the closure assembly are locked in their pressure-tight operative relationships. Beyond the screw-threaded portion 48 the retainer is reduced in section to form a stud 58 by which the closure assembly may be handled in removing it or replacing it.

Slidably mounted upon the middle and cylindrical part of the retainer 38 is a gland member, the structure of which is independently shown in Fig. '7 of the drawing. The main part of the gland structure is formed with a bore 8i to such diameter that, while the gland structure may be readily moved longitudinally of the retainer 38,

it cannot have any substantial degree of free movement otherwise thereon. The forward part of the gland structure is in the nature of a block having on its opposite sides two parallel and plane surfaces, one of which is indicated at 21'. The forward edges of these surfaces are indicated at 52 and 54 in Fig. 'I. These surfaces are connected by the curved surfaces 58 and 58, which are of such a diameter that the forward part-or block of the gland structure will be readily receivable between the inner curved edges of the overhanging extensions 2I' and 2I", these relatilolnshiips of parts being indicated particularly in g.

Inwardly of the forward block portion 68 of the gland structure, there is'a transverse locking bar section having opposite projecting ends 24 and 26. The side surfaces of this locking bar section are continuations of the side surfaces of the block section 88, one of which is indicated at 21' in Fig. 7.. and the locking bar ends 24 and 28 project outwardly of the curved surfaces 86 and 58 so as to be normally locked behind the inward overhanging parts of the projections 2I' and 2|", such a relationship of elements being indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, Also, the radial extension of the elements 24 and 28 beyond the surfaces 56 and 58 is such that substantial shoulders are formed for engagement with the inner shoulders presented by the overhanging extensions of the portions 2I' and 2I". Furthermore, the curved surfaces 82 and 64 at the ends of the portions 24 and 26 are of such a radius that the entire gland structure 28 may be readily turned as a unit within the circular or recess 22.

Beyond the extensions 24 and 28 of the locking bar section of the gland structure the latter is formed to present a tubular gasket extension 32. This extension has a bore 88 larger than the remainder of th gland structure, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bore of this part of the gland structure being such that there is a free sliding fit of the gasket extension 32 over the cylindrically surfaced intermediate section 88 of the retainer.

The gasket extension 32 of the gland member also has its right hand end conically ground so as to make contact with the packing or gasket 34, the oblique end surface of the gasket extension cooperating with the inclined surface on the left hand side of the annular shoulder 36 of the retainer to radially expand the gasket 34 as the latter is compressed axially. It will be appreciated that the packing means or gasket 3 is an example of pressure deformable sealing means to effect the required pressure-tight clo- The illustrative closure assembly includes a binder 43 in thenature of a cap or bridge piece mounted upon the retainer 38 between the nut 42 and the left hand end of the gland structure 28. This binder is preferably freely mounted upon the retainer, and it is formed with a longitudinal extension 44 having an inner face 44a which may be brought into parallel relationship to a parallel and complementary gland or flat face 21' of the locking bar section 21. The extension 44 has end 44b and 440 which are parallel to each other and so spaced that they may be; in the operative condition of the illustrative structure, brought into close relationship to the edges of either the recess I8 or the recess 20.

When the closure assembly is inserted in the bore of the body I6 and the gasket member 34 is compressed and expanded against the walls of the bore by the axial movement of the retainer head 36 toward the gland member 28, a pressure tight closure of the access. opening in the body l8 results.

Under normal conditions, the extensions or lugs 24 and 23 of the gland structure are positioned in the annular chamber or gland 22 with their outer shoulders in contact with inwardly overhanging extensions of the portions 2i and 2|". When the gland structure 28 with the lugs 24 and 28 is rotated so that the lugs are in line with the recesses I8 and 28, there can be 1ongitudinal movement by the gland member with the gasket 34 and retainer 38, allowing withdrawal of the closure assembly from the body.

In order that the above indicated rotational movement of the gland structure 28 may be prevented, under normal conditions the illustrative device provides a cooperative locking arrangement between the gland structure 28, the binder 43 and thebody I8. The longitudinal extension 44 of the binder 43 is normally disposed within one of the recesses I8 or 28 and the nut 42 is then turned so as to exert a pressure between the retainer' and the gasket 34. Under such conditions, the inner flat face 44a of the extension 44 may be in close contact with the land or flat face 21 of the locking bar section 21. Also the end or edges 44b and 44c of the extension 44 may be in close relationship or contact with the edges of one of the recesses I8 and 28 so that rotation of the binder 43 relative to the body I8 is prevented. Rotation of the gland structure is prevented by the bearing of the flat face 44a of the extension 44 against the corresponding flat face 21' of the gland structure. Rotation of the gland structure to allow axial withdrawal of the closure assembly is permitted when the nut 42 is backed oil! enough to allow the binder extension 44 to be withdrawn from one of the recesses I8 and 28, then the gland structure (through the stud 58 and the retainer 38) may be rotated so as to bring the lugs 24 and 26 in alignment with the recesses I8 and 28 so that the entire closure assembly can be readily withdrawn.

to all the details of that structure. It is rather to be considered as of a scope commensurate with the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a closure device for an opening a pressure chamber, an annular body; a cent al gland member; pressure deformable seal g means in contact with said gland member and said body; retainer means co-acting with the gland member to deform the interposed sealing means into pressure-tight relationship with the body, said body formed to provide annular locking flange segments and an intermediate recess; lugs on said gland member cooperating with said flange segments to fix said gland member against axial mover nwent; a binder having an extension cooperating with the walls of said recess and with the gland member to prevent rotational movement of the gland member; and adjustable means holding said parts in operative relationship.

2. A fluid pressure device the body of which has an opening therein; said body having a recess formation laterally of the opening; and a closure assembly including a binder, a gland structure having a stop lug thereon adapted to be seated in said recess formation by inthrust and turning movement of the gland structure, a retainer having the gland structure and the binder assembled thereon, pressure deformable sealing means between a part of the retainer and part of the gland structure, and means simultaneously exerting pressure on the sealing means and a reaction force against a wall of the recess to deform said sealing means and effeet-a pressure tight closure of said opening, the binder carrying a keying extension normally seated in a keying socket formed partly in the body and partly in the gland structure.

3. In fluid heat exchange apparatus, closure device for a return bend including at least two branches and a tubular body having a passage communicating with the branches; said body formed to provide stops and having a lateral clean-out bore communicating with-the passage; and a closure assembly insertible as a unit within the bore to effect a pressure tight closure of the bore after looking extensions of the assembly contact the stops; said assembly including a retainer, a gland structure, pressure deformable sealing means between the gland structure and a part of the retainer, a binder having a key extension normally locking the gland structure against turning relative to the body by its extension into a recess between the gland and the body, and means simultaneously'holding the key extension in its locking position between the body and the gland structure and holding the sealing means under bore closing pressure by reaction against the stops.

4. A fluid pressure device the body of which has an access opening or bore therein; said body having a recess formation laterally of the bore; and a closure assembly including a binder, a gland structure having a stop lug thereon adapted to be seated in said recess by inthrust and turning movements of the assembly, a rod-like retainerextending through the gland member and the binder and having those parts assembled thereon, pressure deformable .sealing means interposed relative to a part of the retainer and part of the gland structure, and means simultaneously exerting pressure on the sealing means and a reaction force against a wall of the recess to efi'ect a pressure tight closure of said opening, the binder carrying a keying extension normally seated in a recess formed partly by the body and partly by the gland, ember, said extension preventing the gland member from turni g relative to the body.

5. In fluid heat exchang apparatus, fluid pressure device the body of which has an access opening therein; said body having a locking recess formation laterally of the access opening; and a closure assembly insertible within said opening and including a binder, a gland structure having a stop lug thereon adapted to be seated in said recess by inthrust and turning movements of the assembly, a rod-like retainer having the gland member and the binder assembled thereon, pressure deformable sealing means between a part of the retainer and part of the gland structure, and means simultaneously exerting pressure on the deformable sealing means and a reaction force against a wall of the recess to effect a pressure tight closure of said opening, the binder carrying an integral keying extension normally seated in a recess formed partly by the body and partly by the gland member to prevent accidental turning of the gland member relative to the body.

6. A closure device for a return bend including at least two branches and a tubular body having a passage communicating with the branches; said body formed to provide a stop and a lateral clean-out bore the latter of which communicates with said passage; and a closure assembly insertible as a unit within the bore to effect a pressure tight closure of the bore after a part of the assembly contacts the stop; said assembly including a gland structure, a retainer extending through the gland structure, pressure deformable sealing means between the gland structure and a part of the retainer, a binder having a key normally extending into a recess between the gland and the body to lock the gland structure against turning relative to the body, andmeans simultaneously holding the key in its locking position between the body and the gland structure and holding the sealing means under bore closing pressure by reaction against the stop.

7. A fluid pressure device the body of which has a cylindrical opening therein; said body presenting a stop surface laterally of the opening; and a closure assembly including a binder, a gland structure having a stop lug thereon adapted to be seated against said stop surface by inthrust and turning movementsof the gland structure, a retainer having the gland structure and the binder assembled thereon, pressure deformable sealing means between a part of the retainer and part of the gland structure, means simultaneously exerting pressure on the sealing means and a reaction force against a wall of the recess to deform said sealing means and effect a pressure tight closure of said opening, the gland structure having a flattened portion with which the wall of a surface of said body co-operates to form a keying socket, and a flat sided keying extension carried by the binder and normally seated in said keying socket to normally prevent turning of the gland structure.

CARL C. HAMILTON. 

